Another semester is drawing to a close and I want to say thank you and wish you all a very happy holiday. It was an eventful semester to say the least, with both triumphs and challenges.
First, thank you to all the students, faculty, staff and community members who contributed to Fort Lewis College’s new mission statement and core values. From the faculty suppers to the campus listening sessions to the online surveys, it was absolutely necessary to get as much input from as many different sources as possible. We did that, and I believe it shows in a mission statement and core values that will serve as a strong guide for the College in the future. I’m looking forward to our next steps in the strategic planning process as we’ll turn our attention to creating a new strategic plan.
Of course, we had our challenges as well this semester. I, like many of you, was disappointed to hear about the marking of Fish Mouth Cave by one of our students. Especially disappointing was the fact that the incident occurred during an Outdoor Pursuits trip, a program that is one of Fort Lewis College’s finest. I am grateful to the OP staff for their quick action in talking to the students who went on the trip and reaching out to the BLM. I was glad to see the student who did the writing come forward and take responsibility. Once that happened, we could then begin the process of helping this student find ways to make amends.
Yet our wins outnumbered our losses this fall. The Environmental Center turned 25 while Indigenous People’s Day was officially celebrated for the first year. Reflection, a new, dramatic piece of art by Volkan Alkanoglu, was dedicated for the Community Concert Hall. The College and the FLC Foundation saw millions of dollars in grants and donations come in while both our graduation and retention rates increased. In fact, our six-year graduation rate is now at an all-time high for Fort Lewis College. I could go on and on.
One of the most exciting events this fall was the completion of the Geosciences, Physics & Engineering Hall. The College took over control of the building in early December and the process of moving in has begun. As the construction costs came in under budget, we were able to use the extra funds to purchase state-of-the-art scientific equipment for the GPE labs, equipment that you’d usually only find at big universities. I can’t wait for classes to start in our new building next semester.
There is a lot of work to be done in 2017, and more challenges to overcome. There will also be many more triumphs to celebrate. Come what may, if we stand together, there’s nothing we can’t accomplish. Have a wonderful break and we’ll see you next year!
Sincerely,
Dene Thomas
President, Fort Lewis College